F Jared Dudley finished with 17 points Wednesday.

F Jared Dudley came off the bench to lead Washington with 19 points and five rebounds.

F Jared Dudley scored 13 points against his former team. "We had two hard practices," Dudley said. "This is how we're going to play D, we're going to simplify it. There's only two different ways and then we're going just go 100 percent and be aggressive with that."

Washington Wizards guard Jared Dudley said Monday that he expects to play in a preseason game this week after recovering from back surgery, according to the Washington Post.

Washington Wizards guard Jared Dudley said Monday that he expects to play in a preseason game this week after recovering back surgery, according to the Washington Post. Dudley returned to practice as a full participant last week, but has yet to play a game this preseason.

Dudley (back) took some contact during Thursday's practice, CSN Washington's J. Michael reports.

It was the second consecutive day Dudley was able to absorb some contact, showing that he's making progress in his recovery from offseason surgery on his lower-back area. The Wizards expect him to return to full practice at some point next week, after which he may be cleared to appear in preseason action.

Dudley (back) is unlikely to resume practicing fully with the Wizards until Oct. 13, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.

With that timetable in mind, Dudley can be safely ruled out of the Wizards' next two exhibition games after he missed Tuesday's preseason opener against the 76ers. If the schedule holds, Dudley would still be able to get in two weeks of practice time in advance of the regular season, likely making him available for the Oct. 28 opener with the Magic. However, because of the time he's already missed, Dudley seems unlikely to pose much of a threat to Otto Porter for the starting role at small forward.

Dudley indicated Monday that he could be back in time for the Wizards' season opener, the Washington Postreports.

Dudley is 10 weeks clear of back surgery, and he said at Monday's media day that he's no longer facing many limitations. "I basically can do everything I want to on the court and then now it's basically just listening to the doctors at that 12-week mark," Dudley said. "I'll probably do 70, 80 percent. The only thing I won't do is full contact, full court. And then once that 12-week mark goes, I'll let go and do full speed. And once the coaches see how I am at 12 weeks, hopefully I can play a preseason game. I expect to be back, if not at the beginning of the season, one or two weeks into the season." It looks as though Dudley will be limited for most of training camp and into the preseason, but if he doesn't run into any roadblocks, the veteran has a chance to be on the floor when the Wizards open up against the Magic on Oct. 28.

Dudley had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back on Tuesday and is expected to miss 3-to-4 months, the team announced.

Dudley was recently traded from the Bucks to the Wizards and there is now a chance he misses the start of the regular season. Dudley was brought in to serve as a stretch-4 off the bench after the departure of Paul Pierce left Washington with a need for someone who can stretch the floor. Dudley is a career 40 percent three-point shooter and will likely be able to make an impact off the bench as soon as he returns. Should Dudley miss any games to start the 2015-16 season, that would make way for players like rookie Kelly Oubre, Otto Porter or even Drew Gooden to see more minutes on the court.

Dudley expects play power forward off the bench this season, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.

Dudley isn't a stranger to moonlighting as a stretch-4, having done so the previous season with the Bucks. The arrangement worked well during the postseason with now departed Paul Pierce, and Dudley could be in line for increased fantasy value playing alongside John Wall, the league's preeminent three-point creator. Dudley's a career 40 percent three-point shooter, and he should have plenty of wide-open looks this season. However, his value will still be capped due to coach Wittman's mid-range mentality. The Wizards attempted 16.8 three-pointers per game last season, the fourth-worst mark in the NBA.

Dudley will be dealt to the Wizards for a trade exception and future second-round pick, ESPN reports.

The Wizards own a pair of trade exceptions -- $4.6 million and $2.3 million -- meaning Dudley's $4.25 million deal will fit nicely into the former. Following the loss of Paul Pierce to the Clippers, Washington was in need of a veteran presence and additional depth on the wing, and Dudley represents both factions. In 72 games with the Bucks last season, Dudley averaged 7.2 points (on 47 percent shooting), 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 three-pointers in 24 minutes.

Dudley opted into his contract for next season Tuesday, ESPN's Marc Stein reports.

Dudley was thought to be leaning toward returning to Milwaukee, and he'll do so for $4.25 million next season. The veteran emerged as a key role player for a surprising Bucks team last season, and he figures to return in a similar role as a utility player, of sorts, off the bench.

Dudley appeared in 72 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor.

Dudley, who was traded to Milwaukee from the Clippers in the offseason, may not have made a massive statistical impact, but by all accounts he played a major role in the league's biggest turnaround story. The epitome of a role player, Dudley played and defended several positions throughout the year and served primarily as a catch-and-shoot threat on the offensive end. The Boston College product peaked before the All-Star break, averaging 12.1 points on 59.8 percent shooting (56.5% 3Pt) over a 12-game span in which the Bucks went 9-3. He came back down to Earth after the break, however, as nagging knee and back injuries began to limit his effectiveness. Dudley sat out six games in mid-March and rested the final two games of the regular season in hopes of returning at full strength for the playoffs. While he logged double-digit minutes in all six postseason contests, Dudley was mostly ineffective, averaging 6.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He was one of only a couple Bucks players to shoot efficiently, however, as he connected on 8-of-14 three-point attempts. Dudley enters the offseason with a decision to make. Holding a $4.25 million player option for next season, the soon-to-be-30-year-old said he's unsure whether he'll exercise the option or seek a longer term deal in Milwaukee or elsewhere. The veteran last spoke to the media on May 1, when he said he believes there is an "80-to-90 percent chance" he returns to the Bucks.

Dudley said Thursday that there is a "80-90 percent chance" he returns to the Bucks next season, Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin reports.

The ball is currently in Dudley's court, as he holds a $4.25 million player option for next season. Dudley is currently unsure if he'll exercise the option, but even if he doesn't, there appears to be a considerable amount of optimism that he and the Bucks would be able to work out a new, longer-term deal. The veteran was an integral part of the Bucks resurgence, but he turns 30 in July and dealt with lingering knee and back issues this season.

Dudley has been quiet through the Bucks' first two playoff games.

Dudley played 17 minutes in Game 1 and only 12 in Game 2, and he hasn't been much of a factor for the Bucks, who could desperately use his outside shooting ability. Dudley is a combined 2-of-8 from the field (1-4 3Pt) while adding 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He'll likely continue to see limited minutes off the bench for the remainder of the series.

Dudley took part in a full practice Thursday, CF Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Dudley rested the final two games of the regular season, but after going through a full practice Thursday there is no reason to believe he won't be available Saturday, as expected. Though he started one game in place of Giannis Antetokounmpo down the stretch, Dudley will likely come off the bench against the Bulls.

Dudley will rest Wednesday against the Celtics.

With the six seed already locked up, Dudley will rest for the second straight game. He's dealt with back issues throughout the second half of the season, but the expectation is that he'll be ready for the Bucks' first round series, which will kick off Saturday or Sunday.

Dudley will not travel to Philadelphia with his team.

This essentially rules Dudley out for the game Monday, which makes sense considering the Bucks cannot improve or lose their seed during the final two games of the season. Expect Dudley to return to the lineup for the Bucks' final game at home against the Celtics.

Dudley returned to the bench with Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup and had five points (2-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT) with four rebounds in 27 minutes in the win over the Knicks on Saturday.

Dudley's production does not appear to hinge on his being in the starting lineup. He does not put up many numbers in either situation. Dudley should only be used in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Dudley will shift back to the bench for Friday's game against the Knicks, Ian Begley of ESPN reports.

Dudley got the call while Giannis Antetokounmpo (coach's decision) sat out Wednesday, but with Antetokounmpo returning to the lineup Friday, Dudley will move back to a reserve role. Dudley provided five points, three rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes Wednesday. He's an integral role player for the Bucks, who can clinch a playoff spot Friday, but he doesn't rack up counting stats consistently enough to warrant consideration in most leagues.

Dudley started for Giannis Antetokounmpo (coach's decision) and provided five points (2-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds, and seven assists in 32 minutes in the loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo was benched under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Dudley received a nice bump in minutes, but up similar stats as a reserve. His 3-point spree in February is but a memory.